Talk » need to win to do that. If the Sharks lose and

OAKLAND, Calif. -- A big pinch-hit double by seldom-used Tyler White in the eighth inning and little discipline at the plate by Marwin Gonzalez in the ninth provided just enough to keep the Houston Astros on the fringe of the AL wild card race.Manager A.J. Hinchs ballclub might be down -- three games, in fact -- but theyre certainly not out.White hit a game-tying double in the eighth and Gonzalez followed with a two-run single off Ryan Madson in the ninth and the Astros came from behind to beat the Oakland Athletics 4-2 on Monday night.We need them all, I loved how our team hung in there until the end, Hinch said. Some of the biggest at-bats were when the game was on the line. I liked how we gutted it out.Houston remains three games behind Baltimore and Toronto in the race for the AL wild card spots. Two other teams, Detroit and Seattle, are also in front of the Astros.Were fighting to the end, Gonzalez said. Nobodys quitting. Weve got to fight until the end.The Astros trailed 2-1 going into the eighth inning but tied it on Whites RBI-double then they scored twice in the ninth to keep their slim playoff hopes alive.Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa opened the inning with singles. After Evan Gattis was intentionally walked, Gonzalez lined the first pitch from Madson (5-7) into center field to drive in Altuve and Correa.He didnt get too big, Hinch said of his switch-hitting first baseman. Sometimes our guys, they want to win so badly, you want to be the guy, we can come out of our swing a little bit. Not tonight.Correa finished with two hits while Gattis hit his 28th home run of the season to help the Astros to their fifth straight win over the As.Former Oakland reliever Luke Gregerson (4-1) retired three batters for the win. Ken Giles pitched the ninth for his 12th save.Ryon Healy and Bruce Maxwell hit solo home runs for the As, who had won six of seven before the bullpen allowed three runs in two innings and wasted a strong start by rookie Jharel Cotton.Cotton allowed one run over six innings. The right-hander retired 18 of the 20 batters he faced, allowing Gattis home run in the second. He struck out six.Every time out he looks like the same guy, As manager Bob Melvin said. Hes locating all his pitches, his changeup in any count, and his curveball was probably better today than weve seen it. He pitched great.CLOSING IN ON 200 AGAINAltuve went 1 for 4, leaving him one hit shy of 200. Altuve is attempting to become the first player since Ichiro Suzuki to have 200 or more hits in three consecutive seasons.PEACOCK CAN STRUTHouston starter Brad Peacock allowed two runs over 5 1/3 innings, walked two and struck out two. Peacock, who was the As top pitching prospect before being traded to the Astros in 2013, extended his career-long streak for allowing three earned runs or fewer to 10 consecutive games. The streak dates to 2014.TRAINERS ROOMAthletics: RHP Sonny Gray (strained right forearm) will throw a bullpen session Tuesday and if all goes well, the Oakland ace will face hitters in his next step of rehab. The team is still hopeful of getting Gray into a game before the end of the season. ... Henderson Alvarez will undergo a second surgery on his right shoulder Tuesday. Alvarez has not pitched in the majors since May 22, 2015. ... 1B/OF Mark Canha will begin hitting off a tee as he attempts to return from a back strain that has kept him out since May 9.UP NEXTAstros: RHP Joe Musgrove (3-4) starts against Oakland on Tuesday. The rookie beat the As earlier this season when he pitched 5 1/3 scoreless innings.Athletics: LHP Sean Manaea (6-9) makes his second start since missing 15 days with a strained left rhomboid. Tucker Davidson Jersey . -- Jacksonville wide receiver Cecil Shorts will likely be a game-time decision whether hell play Sunday in the Jaguars home game against the San Diego Chargers. Bob Hendley Jersey . -- Charlie Graham stopped 67 shots as the Belleville Bulls edged the visiting Guelph Storm 6-5 on Saturday in Ontario Hockey League action. http://www.custombravesjersey.com/custom-hoyt-wilhelm-jersey-large-767z.html . He was followed closely by David Clarkson, donning red, seconds later. Clarksons actions one night earlier, leaping off the bench in defence of Kessel during a pre-season game against the Buffalo Sabres, will cost him the first 10 games of the regular season. Ralph Garr Jersey . Boucher previously coached the Tampa Bay Lightning and had a 97-78-20 record over two-plus seasons. He was dismissed by the team last March after the Lightning struggled in the lockout-shortened season with a 13-18-1 record. Braves Jerseys China . -- Washington Redskins tight end Fred Davis was charged Thursday with driving while intoxicated, a day after he was suspended for an NFL substance-abuse policy violation. WHAT THE RESULT OF EACH OF THE NRLS LAST-ROUND GAMES WILL MEAN FOR THE FINALSBrisbane v Sydney Roosters, Suncorp Stadium, Thursday, 7.50pm (AEST)The Roosters season ended long ago, but Brisbane (fifth, 32 points, +110) need to win to ensure they host a knockout final in week one of the playoffs. If Brisbane lose, the Bulldogs win and Penrith win and improve their for-and-against by 41 in comparison, the Broncos will play away in two weeks time. If Brisbane win and the Cowboys lose, Brisbane make the top four.Canterbury v South Sydney, ANZ Stadium, Friday, 7.50pmSouths are also gone for 2016, but if the Bulldogs (sixth, 32 points, +76) win and North Queensland and Brisbane lose, Canterbury will finish in the top four. If the Dogs lose and Penrith win and improve their comparable for-and-against by seven, the Panthers will usurp Canterbury in hosting the elimination final between the two sides.St George Illawarra v Newcastle, Kogarah Jubilee Oval, Saturday, 3pmJust pride to play for in what might be Benji Marshalls final NRL game.North Queensland v Gold Coast, 1300SMILES Stadium, Saturday, 5.30pmIf the Cowboys (fourth, 32 points, +213) win they will finish top four and travel to Melbourne, or Sydney to face Cronulla, or Canberra in week one of the finals. If they lose and either of the Dogs or Broncos win, they will miss out on the top four and host an elimination final. The Titans (eighth, 27 points, +27) can hold eighth spot with a win. If the Titans lose and Wests Tigers win, the joint venture will leapfrog Gold Coastt into the final playoff spot.ddddddddddddMelbourne v Cronulla, AAMI Park, Saturday, 7.30pmThe winner will claim the minor premiership. Melbourne (first, 40 points, +241) have already earned a home qualifying final in week one of the playoffs. Cronulla (second, 39 points, +196) need to win to do that. If the Sharks lose and Canberra beat Wests Tigers, the Sharks will travel to the nations capital the week after next.Wests Tigers v Canberra, Leichhardt Oval, Sunday, 2pmIf the Sharks lose and Canberra (third, 37 points, +190) win, the Raiders will host Cronulla in week one of the finals. If the Raiders lose, they will travel to Sydney to face the Sharks or Melbourne. If the Titans lose and the Tigers (ninth, 26 points, -66) win, they leapfrog the Gold Coast into eighth spot.Warriors v Parramatta, Mt Smart Stadium, Sunday, 4pmThe Eels salary cap dramas sank their season, while the Warriors below-par efforts are to blame as they go five seasons and counting without a finals berth.Penrith v Manly, Pepper Stadium, Sunday, 6.30pmIf the Bulldogs lose, a Penrith (seventh, 30 points, +70) win will give them a home final in week one. If the Dogs and Broncos lose and the Panthers improve their points differential by 41 against Brisbane, they could finish as high as fifth and host the eighth-placed team. If the Bulldogs and Broncos win, Penrith will finish seventh and travel in week one of the playoffs. ' ' '